Needing 13 - Johnny Kavanagh

SEVEN'S A GOOD NUMBER

JOHNNY

"Mr.Rugby? Is that you?"

I snapped my gaze up, straining to focus through the haze of my disorientation. A tall lad about my age stood there, his expression expectant. I couldn't quite place his face, but something about him seemed familiar, his voice too.

He had his arm casually draped over the shoulder of an attractive blonde—though, in my current state, I couldn't help but think she paled in comparison to my angel. A pang of longing struck me, and I felt an ache in my chest.

God, I missed her.

My mind drifted back to the recent altercation with Ryan Cormac, whose bitchy girlfriend had dared to come after my Shannon. If Bella thought they could lay a hand on my best friend, she were sorely mistaken. I'd bury both of them before letting that happen.

"I spoke to you on the phone the other week. You know my sister, Shannon. And I think you also know my twin, Tara."

My angel?

He knew my angel?

Can you be more of a bleeding eejit, Kav?

He just told you he's her twin.

I squinted, trying to focus through the fog of alcohol and exhaustion. "You're the hurler—" I paused. "Joey!" I finally blurted out, a flicker of triumph lighting up my face as I managed to pull that piece of information from the depths of my muddled thoughts. "Joey the hurler, Shannon like the river, and Tara like the hill."

"Like the river? Like the hill?" the girl chuckled, and as the laughter reached my ears, I recognized her. It was Aoife. "God, how much have you had to drink?"

"A river, by the looks of it," Joey said wryly, eyeing me with a blend of amusement and curiosity. "And then decided it was a good idea to go up a hill." He studied me closely, concern lining his features. "Do you think you should head home, man? You look fairly smashed."

"Would if I could."

"Sure, we can give you a lift, can't we, babe?" Aoife beamed at her boyfriend, pointing down the street. "We're only parked down the road."

"That'd be...great."

Joey raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by my sudden acceptance. "Yeah, sure, no problem," he replied. "Let's go."

With considerable effort, I managed to get to my feet, swaying slightly as I tried to steady myself. "I'm alright," I slurred, trying to muster a semblance of coherence as I saw him starting to approach. "I'm okay."

I leaned heavily against the wall, using it for support as I navigated my way forward. Each step was a struggle, my legs feeling like they were made of lead, but somehow, I managed to stay upright. It was a miracle that I didn't collapse onto the pavement as we slowly made our way to the red Opel Corsa parked down the street. The car's color was a dull blur to me at this point, but I couldn't care less. All I wanted was to get home, lie down, and lose myself in dreams of her.

"You good, Mr.Rugby?"

"All good," I croaked out. "Thanks again for the lift."

"Where are we heading?"

Straight to your house because I want to fuck your twin sister. Probably love her too—kiss her, and hold her all through the night, because I miss her like a big, fucking crazy amount.

"About four miles to the other side of Tommen College," I fumbled clumsily with the seatbelt, my fingers not cooperating in their attempts to find the clasp. "Head out the main road for the city." I gave up and let my head loll back against the headrest, sighing deeply. "I'll call the turn-offs when we get to them."